''SHE'S got him.'' Sarah Legge cannot see her dog among the waist-high grass tufts characteristic of the central Kimberley, but the conservation scientist runs towards the distinctive bark the mutt makes when she has caught her prize.

By the time Dr Legge and her team of scientists from the Australian Wildlife Conservancy catch up, Sally, the springer spaniel, has cornered a feral cat.

''Sally's job is to help us find feral cats so we can learn more about them and their hunting patterns,'' says Dr Legge, as fellow scientist Hugh McGregor weighs the grey feline and replaces its GPS neck collar.Advertisement: Story continues below